Introduction
A 150-ft wood fence is right on the boundary: small enough for a determined DIYer, large enough that a pro crew earns its fee. The decision isn’t about skill alone — it’s about time, tools, soil, and how much you value your weekends. This guide works the comparison honestly, with real numbers for both paths.
Whichever path you choose, start with the same material list from the Wood Fence Calculator — 330 pickets, 26 posts, 78 rails for the standard 150-ft cedar privacy example. The list doesn’t change; who installs it does.
The Cost Comparison
For the standard example — 150 ft (45.72 m), 6-ft (1.83 m) cedar privacy:
| DIY | Pro installed | |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | ~$2,745 | Included in bid |
| Tool rental/purchase | $150–$300 (auger, etc.) | $0 |
| Disposal (old fence) | $100–$250 | Often included |
| Labour | Your weekends | ~$1,500–$3,000 |
| Total cash outlay | ~$3,000–$3,300 | ~$4,200–$6,000 |
| Your time | 40–60 hours | 0 |
DIY saves roughly $1,500–$2,700 in cash — 35–45% — at the cost of 40–60 hours of physical work. The detailed budget behind these figures is in the cost guide.
The Time Reality
Contractor crews build this fence in 2–3 days. A DIYer with a helper and a rented auger should plan 3–4 full weekends:
- Weekend 1: tear-down and disposal, layout, string lines, post-hole digging.
- Weekend 2: set posts in concrete (then wait for cure — do rails the following weekend, not the same day).
- Weekend 3: hang rails and pickets.
- Weekend 4: gates, trim, stain, cleanup.
The cure wait is non-negotiable — hanging rails on green concrete is the top cause of leaning DIY fences, per the pro tips guide. Rocky soil, solo work, or no auger rental can each add a full weekend.
When DIY Makes Sense
- Straight, flat runs with easy digging — the job is repetitive, not technical.
- You own or can rent the tools: power auger (~$75–$100/day), circular saw, drill/driver, 4-ft level.
- Schedule flexibility: you can wait out the concrete cure and a rain delay without pressure.
- Simple gates (or none): gates are the most skill-intensive part; a single walk gate is DIY-able, a double drive gate often isn’t.
- You want the savings more than the weekends: $1,500+ saved is real money.
When to Hire a Pro
- Rocky or clay soil: hand-digging 26 post holes in rock is brutal; pros have hydraulic augers and the crew to run them.
- Slopes: stepped fences need judgment on every post; racked fences need custom-cut rails. Both are slower and more error-prone for first-timers.
- Long runs (200+ ft / 60+ m): the time cost scales linearly but fatigue doesn’t — quality drops on weekend four.
- Tight deadlines: HOA compliance windows, a dog that needs containing, a house going on the market.
- Complex gates or retaining integration: double gates, gates on slopes, fences doubling as retaining walls — hire the engineering, not just the labour.
- Permit and inspection jurisdictions: pros know the local inspectors’ expectations; see the code compliance guide for what’s typically inspected.
The Hybrid Path (Often the Best Value)
Split the job by skill level:
- DIY the tear-down and disposal — unskilled labour, saves $300–$600 off the bid.
- DIY the staining — another $400–$700 of the bid, and pre-staining before installation is actually easier for a homeowner working at sawhorse height.
- Hire the posts and framing — the structural core where pro speed and straight lines matter most.
- DIY or hire the pickets — hanging pickets is straightforward; it’s just 330 repetitions.
This hybrid typically lands 15–25% below a full pro bid while keeping the critical structural work professional. Get the bid itemized so you can carve out the DIY portions cleanly.
Vetting a Contractor
- Get 3+ itemized bids — materials, labour, removal, permits, gates, and stain as separate lines. Bids 25% below the cluster usually mean thinner materials or skipped concrete.
- Ask about post setting specifically: depth (should be 3 ft / 0.91 m for a 6-ft fence), concrete vs tamped soil, and cure time before loading. Vague answers are a red flag.
- Ask for the lumber spec: species, grade, and ground-contact rating on posts. “Cedar fence” with above-ground-rated posts is a 10-year fence at a 15-year price.
- Check the warranty: 1–2 years on workmanship is standard; material warranties come from the lumber treater, not the installer.
- Verify insurance and licence where your jurisdiction requires it — and never pay more than a third upfront.
Related Guides
- Wood Fence Cost Guide — the full budget both paths are priced from.
- Pro Tips — the installation standards to hold any contractor to.
- Wood Fence Complete Guide — the material list for the 150-ft example.
- Pre-Install Fence Checklist — what to verify whichever path you take.
- Code Compliance — permits and inspections for hired work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save building a fence myself?
Roughly 35–45% of the installed price — about $1,500–$2,700 on a standard 150-ft cedar privacy fence — at the cost of 40–60 hours of your time plus tool rental.
How long does it take to DIY a fence?
Plan 3–4 full weekends for 150 ft with a helper: tear-down and holes, post setting, rails and pickets, then gates and stain. Rocky soil or solo work adds time.
Should I hire out just the posts?
It’s the highest-value portion to hire: post setting is the most skill-sensitive and back-breaking phase. Many contractors will set posts and frame rails while you hang pickets and stain.
What should a fence contractor’s bid include?
Itemized materials (species, grade), labour, old-fence removal, permits, gates, stain, and cleanup — plus post depth and setting method in writing. Vague lump sums hide the corners being cut.
Do fence installers need to be licensed?
Depends on the jurisdiction — some require a general contractor’s licence for fence work, others don’t. Check with your local building department; the code compliance guide explains what to ask.
Get Your Number
The decision is arithmetic plus honesty: price the materials with the Wood Fence Calculator, get three itemized bids, and value your weekends realistically. Whether you dig the holes or hire them dug, the same material list and the same post-depth rules apply — the fence doesn’t care who built it, only how.
Disclaimer: Cost and time figures are typical US planning estimates that vary with region, site conditions, and contractor markets. Verify bids and credentials locally. Calculator results are planning estimates; consult a licensed professional or your local building authority for structural or code-related decisions.
